G

overnor Fauzi Bowo launched on Tuesday a new system to monitor and control traffic and the Transjakarta Busway system.

The Rp 30 billion (US$3.51 million) Intelligent Transport System (ITS) will rely on bus tracking, traffic monitoring and traffic control systems.

The ITS features GPS technology to monitor the progress of Transjakarta buses to cut travel and waiting times, among other things.

Fauzi was upbeat about the new system’s benefits when speaking at the launch on Tuesday. “Transjakarta operators will be able to adjust the number of buses plying certain routes and shift them to routes in need of more buses in real time.”

The bus tracking system will be implemented immediately for the 90 buses on Transjakarta Corridor 1 running from Blok M in South Jakarta to Kota in North Jakarta before it is expanded to include additional corridors later this year.

The traffic monitoring and control systems will use cameras and traffic lights at intersections to give priority specific lanes.

The monitoring and control systems are currently active at 12 intersections along Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta and along Jl. Sisingamangaraja in South Jakarta. It will be expanded to include 13 more of Jakarta’s 600 intersections by December.

Illuminated electronic signboards will be placed on Jl. Gatot Subroto and Jl. Hayam Wuruk in December, according to the plan.

The signs will be used to give travelers information on traffic congestion, accidents, alternate routes, estimated delays, incidents and rallies.

Jakarta was in need of the advanced system. “Other big cities have ceased using conventional methods. It’s Jakarta’s time now,” Fauzi said.

When at full capacity, the system would advise drivers of road conditions in real time, while also offering immediate information on waiting times to Transjakarta users, Fauzi said

Jakarta Transportation Agency head Udar Pristono said the system would also be used to monitor the behavior of busway drivers.